Beyond The Veil Of Dreams

4. Family

I was flabber-gasted.

 What did I just witness? Who was the person I saw in my memory? Running to a nearby toilet, I put my hands on my mouth. 

I felt like throwing up. "Blergh! Blergh!!!" My breaths were heavy as I looked at myself in the mirror. Who was I? Why were all these things happening to me? The thought of moving organs and hands couldn't get off my head.

Night came quickly but I didn't see anyone apart from the maids. I still wondered why they dressed in such weird attire.

 "Don't family members live together?" I thought to myself. I didn't see any of my family members. 

I felt lonely, sitting in a strange room, all alone. I feared that the monster would reappear, It's appetite not yet sated.

With much difficulty, I fell asleep with fragmented dreams and constant tossing. Each time I awoke, I could only hear the sounds of loneliness and emptiness around me. 

"Why isn't anyone coming to see me?" I mustered up the courage to ask one of my maids some days later. She told me that her name was Trisha and she seemed kinder than the rest.

 "Whatever do you mean?" She asked. "You know, family?" I clarified. "Shouldn't we be together?". I needed someone I could at least trust a little to explain everything.

 Her silence spoke volumes. She looked really uncomfortable. "Do you feel a bit sick, your highness?" She asked. 

"What do you mean? And why do you keep calling me 'your highness'?" I was confused. Trisha's worried expression seemed to intensify. "I'll go see the royal physician." She said, leaving the room before I could stop her. I looked at her confused.

She probably caught on that I had lost my memory. 

Trisha didn't come again that day. The only visitors I had were doctors who asked me strange questions that I couldn't give them an answer to. 

Night came quickly and I sat in my room alone, staring into space. I looked past the slightly opened curtain to see the moon peeking out. It had a light blue tint to it as it shone.

 Oddly, it reminded me of a certain person's hair, although I couldn't figure out who. 

Looking closer, I saw the silhouette of a person on the balcony. I could feel the person's stare, directed at me. 

The figure moved closer and I could hear knocking on the balcony window. Who was that? Standing up, I walked closer to the balcony. 

"Doesn't look like a monster..." I whispered to myself. With much effort, I managed to fight my fear of windows and open the window slightly.

"Who are you?" I asked. He looked a bit taken aback but composed himself. "So you really lost your memories." He said to himself. 

His hair color was like that of wine, just like mine and he had light grey eyes, just like mine.

 "Are you my brother?" I asked. The man smiled. "Glad you still remember me." He answered the question. 

"Come." He said. "The room must be stuffy. Come get some fresh air." His hand was open, waiting for me to accept his invitation. 

I stepped back. "I'm perfectly fine." I told him. "Suit yourself." He shrugged as he came in. "I didn't say you could come in!" I frowned. Was this how he always was? "Ah, my bad. I'm used to barging in." He chuckled. 

"I'm Verdint." He introduced. "And you're Alyssa." He pointed softly at me. "We're family." He smiled. 

Family? Then why did he leave me in a place like this to die? "I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you earlier. You must've been shocked when all that happened." He said, referring to the monster incident. "Father didn't grant me that luxury." "Why don't we live together?" I asked. 

Verdint tilted his head. "That was what you wanted." He told me. "If you want. You can always come back with us." He said. "Until then, I'll visit you everyday!" He beamed. 

Verdint kept his promise. He visited frequently to keep me company. He told me stories about our childhood so that I could remember everything quickly. He was kind and sweet and for a moment, I had forgotten about everything else. 

"How old am I, Verdint?" I asked as we walked down the garden of my castle. "Nineteen, this year." He replied. "You're a real adult now!" He ruffled my hair. 

"On that note, there's a ball coming up and I'd love my adult sister to come with me." He invited. "A ball? I'd love to." Going to a ball was far better than staying in this suffocating castle. "Then it's settled. I'll come pick you up."

I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom, trying to fall asleep. 

"Stay awake." 

The voice in my head said repeatedly.

"Don't close your ey-"

The voice was interrupted by the window opening followed by the sound of footsteps. 

"Huff huff huff." The person was panting badly.

"Oh Alyssa... huff huff huff."

I closed my eyes as the voice moved closer. I felt a hand on my hair. 

"Alyssa..." The voice called again.

 Verdint? No, it couldn't be.

 I wanted to open my eyes like the voice in my head told me to but I couldn't. His hands moved from my hair and touched my face. I heard him chuckle as he moved away.

 "I have to be patient. Not today." The voice whispered. 

I opened my eyes after a while to see a red-haired man leave my room. "Family." I scoffed "What a joke."